Five ways to balance an overactive mind

Ayurveda is a type of alternative medicine, according to this; our energy is made up of the elements – earth, fire, water, air and space.

Every individual has a different combination to make up our constitutional balance. Vata is the ‘air and space’ element – it is cold, always moving, quick and constantly changing.

In terms of Ayurveda, a person with a Vata imbalance may be at risk of fatigue, insomnia, hypertension and an overactive mind. An overactive mind is when the person will continually worry and fear about the thoughts going on in their mind.

The effects of not giving yourself time to relax and not practising stress relieving methods can wreak havoc in the mind. Not only that, but society today is constantly moving and progressing, leaving our minds almost always ‘switched on’. In order to live a happy, healthy life, our mind and body occasionally need time to ‘reboot’.

Studies have shown overactive brain activity can be linked with depression, sleep disorders, fibromyalgia and other anxiety disorders or mental health problems. There are some great ways to keep an overactive mind balanced – they can take time, practise and determination but the outcome can be worthwhile.

Below are five ways to help balance an overactive mind:

Practise ‘candle gazing’

This is a great way to get started into meditation practice. It is said to help with focus, improve willpower and is believed to help enhance vision. Candle gazing is a good way to practise awareness because the act of staring at a fixed object helps your brain ‘tune out’, therefore developing a stronger inward awareness.

The ‘Lam’ mantra

This is meant to activate our root chakra, it is thought to invoke feelings of security and safety. The technique for this is to sit in a quiet, calm setting and visualise a bright red light at the base of your spine, when sitting comfortably you are to chant the sound ‘lahm’ repeatedly for up to 30 times.

Self-massage

Sesame oil is a warming oil, believed to be very effective in balancing the mind. Using sesame oil for this massage is recommended for its grounding properties. This massage technique offers you the opportunity to appreciate yourself – start at the base of your skull working your way down the body. End the massage with a relaxing salt bath filled with essential oils such as basil or patchouli.

Practice breath-centered yoga

Let go of any yoga routine you are used to and simply let your breathing lead. This could result in your 30-minute yoga practice only lasting four to five poses but try to focus on slow, mindful movements.

Ask yourself ‘where is my centre?’

Asking yourself this question simply makes you more aware of your core. According to Ayurveda, this can help you find balance, calm and the ‘you’ that has not been moved by the external environment.

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